Method Toolboxes for ringers

4.2. Ringing at three different speeds

Ringing Plain Hunt will probably be the first time that you will have to move the position of your bell at every change.

To do this succesfully you need to be able to control and change the speed of your bell. At different times you will need to ring at rounds speed, slower than rounds speed and quicker than rounds speed:

• To hunt up – ring slower than rounds speed.
• To lie behind and lead – ring at rounds speed.
• To hunt down – ring quicker than rounds speed.

Why three different speeds?

In rounds on six bells, a bell has to allow five bells to be rung before striking in the home place. It rings at the same speed in each row. When ringing in the same place five bells must strike before you ring again.

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4 5 6

When a bell moves up a place it has to ring more slowly. It has to allow six blows to be rung before striking in the new place. When hunting up six bells must strike before you ring again.

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4 5 6

When a bell moves down a place it has to ring more quickly. It has to allow four blows to be rung before striking in the new place. When hunting down four bells must strike before you ring again.

1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4 5 6

How to change the speed of your ringing

When going out towards the back, hold up and ring slightly slower than in rounds:

•  At handstroke, put more weight on the previous backstroke to get more energy into the rope. Let the sally rise a little higher.
• At backstroke, put more weight on the previous handstroke. Let the rope rise a little higher. Stretch up!

When coming down towards the front, ring slightly quicker than in rounds:

• At handstroke check the sally. 
• At backstroke, don’t let the rope go up quite as far or take a bit of rope in to shorten it so that the rope cannot rise as much.

When leading and lying ring at the same speed as in rounds. Remember the open handstroke lead. That is the little extra gap at the handstroke lead (equivalent to one blow). You will need to follow through on the backstroke lead a little more to put a bit more energy into the rope to get the next handstroke up into second place.

Video resources

Changing speed in Plain Hunt

Watch the treble ring Plain Hunt on five bells whilst the other bells ring a method – Plain Bob Doubles. Note the ropesight and the the changes of speed.

Ringing quicker and slower than rounds speed

Find out more about more about why and by how much you need to change the speed of your bell by watching this short video.